President visits Ooni, Owa, Ataoja for blessings

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, all in Osun State, in the latest of his vote seeking trips to the Southwest ahead of this month’s presidential election.

Oba Sijuwade wished Jonathan success at the poll and mandated about 50 other traditional rulers present at the event to pray for the president, who sat down while the prayer went on.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adeniran and the Oluresi of Iresi, Oba Sikiru Adeseun, demanded the creation of Oodua State with headquarters in Ile Ife, and the completion of ongoing federal government projects.

President Jonathan said he had reduced the cost of importing food annually from N3 trillion to N600 billion.

Jonathan, who was accompanied by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, and other PDP chieftains, listed his administration’s achievements in various sectors, including agriculture, education, health and road construction.

He said: “In other countries affected by the crash in prices of oil in global market, people are already queuing to buy food and other things, but we are able to avert a situation like that here because of increase in food production over the years.

“We have used N3.3 trillion to import food but we ensured that our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record, exceeding set target of 20 million metric tons we targeted for 2015.

Responding to issue of marginalisation of the South West, Jonathan promised to correct all errors against the geo-political zone in his second term if re-elected.

He assured that whatever belongs to the South West will not be taken to another region.

He said ideas in the National Conference report will transform Nigeria and further assured that he was ready to implement what are contained in the report if re-elected.